UPDATES: OAU cancels automatic employment for top performing graduates

Forty five students graduated with First Class from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, the school has announced, as it prepares to hold its 41st Convocation.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Bamitale Omole, 45 students got First Class; 1,241 finished at the Second Class Upper Division; 2,717, Second Class Lower; 818, Third Class and 64 finished with Pass.

Mr. Omole, a professor, said the university could not give automatic jobs to the First Class graduating students in line with its tradition because of the economic down turn, which had affected the university’s finances.

He said the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah, would deliver the 41st convocation lecture on Friday on the theme: “The Pursuit of Happiness: Some Thoughts on Human Rights, Freedom and Justice in Nigeria”.

Speaking on achievements of the university, Mr. Omole said the institution received a grant of $1.12 million from the International Development Research Centre, IDRC, Canada, to advance research on indigenous vegetables.

There were however mixed reactions on the decision of the university to stop automatic employment for First Class graduates.

While some students saw it as unfair and inconsistent, others supported the school’s decision.

Some students who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said the cancelation may breed mediocrity as the best brains might be lost leaving the stage low performers.

Some however argued that it was an error to think that only a First Class graduate could better impact the needed academic knowledge, noting that the cancellation would have no negative impact.